U.S. patent number 5,115,524 [Application Number 07/599,451] was granted by the patent office on 1992-05-26 for folding crib mode from cardboard material.
Invention is credited to H. B. Antosko.
United States Patent |
5,115,524 |
Antosko |
May 26, 1992 |
Folding crib mode from cardboard material
Abstract
A light-weight, compact, portable knock-down crib comprised of a
single flat sheet of foldable material having an integrally formed
rectangular base. A pair of side wall and end wall panels are
foldable on folding score lines about the base. Attachment tabs and
slots are provided to interlock the panels elevated transversely
from the base in a position of use to form an open-top enclosure.
Collapsing folding score lines extend transversely across the flat
sheet and centrally align with the pair of side wall panels. The
panels are foldable on the rectangular base and the flat sheet is
folded into a hand-portable package.
Inventors: |
Antosko; H. B. (Beaconsfield,
Quebec, CA) |
Family
ID: |
27041097 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/599,451 |
Filed: |
October 5, 1990 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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464793 |
Dec 20, 1989 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/99.1; 229/103;
229/117.06; 229/117.17; 5/924; 5/94 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47D
9/005 (20130101); A47D 15/003 (20130101); Y10S
5/924 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47D
9/00 (20060101); A47D 007/00 (); B65D 005/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;5/94,99.1,417 ;190/2
;229/103,117.05,117.06,117.07,117.12,117.16,117.17 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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133498 |
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Jan 1948 |
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AU |
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599108 |
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Mar 1948 |
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GB |
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887810 |
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Jan 1962 |
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GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Trettel; Michael F.
Parent Case Text
This is a Continuation-In-Part application of U.S. application Ser.
No. 464,793 filed Dec. 20, 1989, now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A light-weight, compact, portable knock-down crib comprising a
single flat sheet of foldable material having an integrally formed
rectangular base, a pair of side wall and end wall panels foldable
on folding score lines about said base, attachment means to secure
said panels to one another, means to retain said panels elevated
from said base when in a position of use to form an open-top
enclosure, collapsing folding means disposed in said base and said
side wall panels to permit said side walls and end walls to fold
together on said rectangular base and further permitting said flat
sheet and folded panels to be folded to form a hand-portable
package, said collapsing folding means being comprised by a pair of
spaced-apart parallel score lines extending transversely across
said rectangular base and said side wall panels, and wall folding
means in said side wall panels to permit said side walls and end
walls to fold together on said rectangular base.
2. A crib as claimed in claim 1 wherein said attachment means is a
wing formed in an end edge of said side wall or end wall panels and
secured to an inside surface of the adjacent side wall or end wall
to form a box-like structure.
3. A crib as claimed in claim 2 wherein said wall folding means is
constituted by opposed diagonal fold lines in said side walls and
extending from opposed ends of its said folding score line about
said base and extending to an opposed side of said collapsing
folding means and terminating at a top edge of said side walls.
4. A crib as claimed in claim 3 wherein said side wall and end wall
panels each have an inner and outer elongated rectangular section
with an intermediate score line therebetween, one or more retention
tabs extending outwardly from a top of said outer section, one or
more tab retention slots formed on said rectangular base adjacent
said folding score line of each panel and aligned with said one or
more retention tabs so that said outer rectangular section when
folded over said inner rectangular section on said intermediate
score line toward said rectangular base may be retained rigid in a
transverse plane to said base by locating said one or more tabs in
said one or more slots.
5. A crib as claimed in claim 4 wherein said wings are provided
integral with an end edge of said inner elongated rectangular
section of said end walls, said wings being glued to an inner
surface of said outer elongated rectangular sections of said side
walls in an area above said diagonal fold lines.
6. A crib as claimed in claim 5 wherein said wings have a diagonal
lower edge extending from said foldable score line of said end wall
to permit said side walls and end walls to fold together on said
rectangular base.
7. A crib as claimed in claim 3 wherein a handle member is scored
in said inner rectangular section of said end wall panels at a
predetermined location so that said handle member protrudes from
said hand-portable package when said flat sheet is folded to form
said hand-portable package.
8. A crib as claimed in claim 3 wherein said flat sheet is a blank
formed from cardboard material having a water-proof coating on at
least one surface thereof.
9. A crib as claimed in claim 3 wherein said flat sheet is a
corrugated cardboard blank coated with a fire-retardant solution
and wherein a light-weight pad of deformable material is
dimensioned to fit on said base, said pad having a protective outer
sheet and foldable for storage between folded half-portions of said
flat sheets when folded to said hand-portable package.
10. A light-weight, compact, portable knock-down crib comprising a
single flat sheet of foldable material having an integrally formed
rectangular base, a pair of side wall and end wall panels foldable
on folding score lines about said base, attachment means to
interlock said panels elevated from said base in a position of use
to form an open-top enclosure and collapsing folding means
extending transversely across said flat sheet and centrally aligned
with said pair of side wall panels, said collapsing folding means
including at least one expandable joint in at least part of each
said side wall panels to permit sections of said side wall panels
to move in response to folding pressure so that said flat sheet and
panels may be folded into a hand-portable package.
11. A crib as claimed in claim 10 wherein said side wall and end
wall panels each have an inner and outer elongated rectangular
section with an intermediate score line therebetween, one or more
retention tabs extending outwardly from an outer elongated edge of
said outer section, one or more tab retention slots formed on said
rectangular base adjacent a folding score line and aligned with
said one or more retention tabs so that said outer rectangular
section when folded over said inner rectangular section on said
intermediate score line toward said rectangular base may be
retained in a transverse plane to said base by locating said one or
more tabs in said one or more slots, said collapsing folding means
being two parallel score lines extending transversely across said
flat sheet.
12. A crib as claimed in claim 11 wherein a handle member is scored
in said inner rectangular section of said end wall panels at a
predetermined location so that said handle member protrudes from
said hand-portable package when said flat sheet is folded to form
said hand-portable package.
13. A crib as claimed in claim 12 wherein said handle member is a
U-shaped strip formed by two parallel rows of score lines provided
in said end wall panel area, said handle member protruding from an
upper edge of said hand-portable package, and lock tabs associated
with said handle members.
14. A crib as claimed in claim 11 wherein said flat sheet is a
blank formed from cardboard material, said expandable joint being
constituted by a slot extending into said outer rectangular section
along one of said two parallel score lines which extend
transversely across said flat sheet.
15. A crib as claimed in claim 11 wherein said flat sheet is a
blank formed of corrugated cardboard having a water-proof coating
on at least one surface thereof.
16. A crib as claimed in claim 11 wherein one of said inner
elongated rectangular sections of said side walls or end walls is
provided with opposed wall interlocking wings formed integral
therewith and foldable on a transverse fold line so as to be
positioned intermediate said inner and outer elongated rectangular
sections of said other adjacent rectangular sections when folded to
their position of use.
17. A crib as claimed in claim 16 wherein said interlocking wings
and said retention tabs constitute said attachment means to
interlock said panels, said intermediate score line being a double
parallel score line to form a flat side wall top edge.
18. A crib as claimed in claim 11 wherein there are two
spaced-apart retention tabs on said elongated edge of each of said
outer sections and two aligned tab retention slots in alignment
with said tabs adjacent said folding score lines and a pair of
spaced-apart parallel package forming score lines extending across
a mid-section of said flat sheet of foldable material, said
parallel package forming score lines delineating a rectangular base
for said hand-portable package, said side wall and end wall panels
being folded inwardly of said package.
19. A crib as claimed in claim 11 wherein said flat sheet is a
corrugated cardboard blank coated with a fire-retardant solution
and a light-weight pad of deformable material dimensioned to fit on
said base, said pad being a plastic pad having air pockets, said
pad having a protective outer sheet and foldable for storage
between folded half-portions of said flat sheets when folded to
said hand-portable package.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light-weight, compact portable
knock-down crib formed of a single cardboard blank or other
suitable foldable material and wherein the blank is provided with
an array of folding lines to permit the crib to be folded into a
collapsed hand-portable package or a box-like crib.
2. Description of Prior Art
Various portable collapsible crib assemblies are known. For
example, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 3,336,608 which
discloses such a collapsible crib made of a flexible plastic skin
material and defines side walls and end walls which are attached
together by snap fasteners to maintain the crib in a position of
use or in a hand-portable package. It is also known from U.S. Pat.
No. 3,487,479 to provide a crib assembly which is made partly from
cardboard material to form a box to hold a container and partition
walls therein, all of which are constructed from several blanks of
cardboard material which are assembled together. A disadvantage of
this latter crib assembly is that it comprises many parts which can
easily be broken or lost thereby rendering the entire crib assembly
inefficient for its intended use. Also, it is difficult to
transport such crib assembly in its knock-down condition because of
the many parts, and therefore it is preferable to maintain it in
its assembled condition during periods of use or non-use.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved
light-weight, compact portable knock-down crib which provides
advantages over the prior art to overcome the problems referred to
above.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
light-weight, compact portable knock-down crib which is formed of
cardboard material treated with a fire retardant solution and/or a
water-proof solution.
According to another object of the present invention, there is
provided a light-weight, compact portable knock-down crib which is
provided with collapsible folding means extending transversely and
central in the base and the side walls with the side walls being
further provided with diagonal fold lines to permit the side walls
and end walls to fold together on the rectangular base and then for
the base to be folded in half into a hand-portable package.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a
light-weight, compact portable knock-down crib which is constructed
of a single flat blank of cardboard material and wherein a
collapsible folding means, including at least one expandable joint,
permits the blank to be folded into a hand-portable package of
small size.
According to the above objects, from a broad aspect, the present
invention provides a light-weight, compact, portable knock-down
crib comprising a single flat sheet of foldable material having an
integrally formed rectangular base. A pair of side wall and end
wall panels are foldable on folding score lines about the base.
Attachment means is provided to secure the panels to one another.
Means is provided to retain the end panels elevated from the base
when in a position of use to form an open-top enclosure.
Collapsible folding means is disposed in the base and the side wall
panels to permit the side walls and end walls to fold together on
the rectangular base and further to permit the flat sheet and
folded panels to be folded to form a hand-portable package.
According to a further broad aspect of the invention, the
collapsible folding means comprises a pair of spaced apart parallel
score lines extending transversely across the rectangular base and
the side wall panels. Wall folding means is provided in the side
wall panels to permit the side walls and end walls to fold together
on the rectangular base.
According to a still further broad aspect of the invention, there
is provided a light-weight, compact portable knock-down crib which
is comprised of a single flat sheet of foldable material having an
integrally formed rectangular base. A pair of side wall and end
wall panels are foldable on folding score lines about the base.
Attachment means is provided to interlock the panels elevated from
the base in a position of use to form an open-top enclosure.
Collapsible folding means extend transversely across the sheet and
centrally aligned with the pair of side wall panels. The collapsing
folding means includes at least one expandable joint in at least
part of each of the side wall panels to permit sections of the side
wall panels to move in response to folding pressure so that the
flat sheet end panels will give to folding pressure to form a
hand-portable package.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described with reference to the
examples thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable knock-down crib in its
condition of use;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the crib when folded into a
hand-portable package in its condition of non-use;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the blank forming the portable knock-down
crib of the present invention;
FIGS. 4 to 6 are simplified plan views of the blank showing the
sequence of folding the blank to form the hand-portable package of
FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the blank, similar to FIG. 3, but showing
a further embodiment of the portable knock-down crib of the present
invention;
FIG. 8 is a fragmented perspective view showing the attachment
between the side walls and end walls and the wall folding diagonal
score lines; and
FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are simplified plan views of the crib
illustrating the folding sequence thereof to form the hand-portable
package of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to
3, there is shown the light-weight, compact, portable knock-down
crib 10 of the invention. The crib 10 is constructed from a single
flat sheet 11 of foldable material such as cardboard, corrugated
cardboard or cardboard impregnated with a fire-retardant solution
or a water-proof solution. The blank sheet 11 can be folded to
constitute the crib 10 as shown in FIG. 1 or to constitute the
hand-portable package 12 as shown in FIG. 2.
Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3, it can be seen
that the blank defines a rectangular base 13, side walls 14 and end
walls 15. The side walls and end walls are each formed of an inner
and outer rectangular section 14', 14" and 15', 15", respectively.
An intermediate score line 16 is disposed between the inner and
outer side wall panels 14' and 14". A further intermediate score
line 17 is provided between the inner and outer end panels 15' and
15" whereby these panels can be folded over each other and about
folding score lines 18 disposed all about the rectangular base 13.
One or more retention tabs 19 extend outwardly from the outer
elongated edges of the outer rectangular panels 14" and 15" to
engage in aligned retention slots 20 formed on the rectangular base
13 adjacent the folding score line 18 so that when the outer
rectangular sections 14" and 15" are folded over the inner
rectangular sections 14' and 15', respectively, the side walls and
end walls are retained vertically to one side of the base 13. The
intermediate score lines 16 and 17 are double score lines as shown
at 17' whereby to provide an outer peripheral edge 21 (see FIG. 1),
which is flat whereby to provide a smooth surface to prevent an
infant from cutting or scratching himself on the edges when
positioned in the crib. Cutouts 22 are also provided in the outer
edges of the outer sections 14" and 15" to provide a finger grip to
facilitate removing the tabs 19 from the slots 20 when
disassembling the crib in its condition of use, as shown in FIG. 1.
By simply inserting the finger in these cutouts 22, the panels can
easily be pulled outwards.
Handle members 23 are also cut in the inner rectangular sections
15' of the end panels 15 in such a way that the handle members
protrude from the hand-portable package when folded to its
condition of non-use, as shown in FIG. 2. A connecting means in the
form of a tab 24 and a tab receiving slot 25 are also formed in the
handle grip section to maintain the cardboard blank in its
hand-portable package 12, as shown in FIG. 2.
As can be seen in FIG. 3, the blank 11 also comprises interlocking
wings 26 which are formed as extensions of the inner sections 15'
of the end walls 15 to interlock with the side walls 14. It is
preferable to have these wings 26 in the end walls as they can be
made longer to fit between the folded over sections of the inner
and outer sections 14' and 14" of the adjacent side wall panels 14.
If the wings were in the side wall panels, they would have to be of
a shorter length due to the fact that the handle grip 23 is
provided in the end wall panels. As herein shown, the handle member
is a U-shaped strip formed by two parallel rows of score lines.
In order to form the portable package 12 as shown in FIG. 2, there
is provided collapsing folding means in the form of two transverse
parallel score lines 27 extending entirely across the blank 11 from
the outer edges of the side walls 14. Also, in order to permit the
outer sections 14" of the side wall panels to move or flex in
response to the folding pressure of the overlaid cardboard end
walls and side walls, at least one expandable joint 28 in the form
of a slit is made from the outer edges of the side wall panels 14"
and extending to the intermediate fold lines 16 and 17. These slits
28 may also be formed in the other fold line 28' to provide added
ease of folding the blank into the portable package shown in FIG.
2. Holes 29 are also formed at strategic junctions of some of the
score lines to also facilitate folding and to prevent tearing of
the cardboard. The spaced apart parallel package forming score
lines 27 also define the base 13' of the package 12 and is of
sufficient width to permit the positioning of a mattress pad 30
within the package 12. This mattress pad 30 is preferably comprised
of a light-weight pad of soft material dimensioned to fit on top of
the base 13. As herein shown, the mattress is formed from a plastic
pad having air pockets therein isolated on the outer surfaces by a
protective outer sheet. It could also consist of a foam sheet or a
laminated foam pad.
The blank of FIG. 3 is folded to form the crib as shown in FIG. 1
in the following manner. Firstly, the wings 26 are bent inwardly
over the base 13 with the inner section 15' of the end wall 15
lifted vertically. The outer section 15" is then folded down with
the tabs 19 entering the slots 20. The side wall outer sections 14"
are then folded on the intermediate score line 16 with the wings 26
captive thereunder and with the inner section 14 extending
vertically. The tabs 19 also are secured within their respective
slots 20. The crib of FIG. 1 is thus formed.
The crib is dismantled by undoing the end walls and side walls by
pulling on the cutouts 22 to disengage the tabs 19 from their slots
20. With the blank folded out as shown in FIG. 3, the wings 26 are
then folded over the inner section 15' of the end walls 15 and the
inner and outer sections 15' and 15" are folded over the adjacent
section of the base 13 as shown by the arrows 31 and 31'
respectively, in FIG. 4. The side wall sections 14' and 14" as
shown in FIG. 5, are then folded over the end wall sections 15' and
15" in the direction of the arrow 32 as shown in FIG. 5. The two
base panels 13" are then folded towards one another in the
direction of arrows 33 to a respective side of the base section
13'. When this is done, the outer side wall sections 14" will flex
outwardly or be forced outwardly in the direction of arrows 34,
this being due to the slits 28 and/or 28' formed in the outer
sections 14" of the side walls 14. These slits 28 and 28' eliminate
the resisting force that would otherwise exist if such had not been
provided and this would continuously place an outward pressure on
the panels 13" of the package and against the attachment tab 25
causing the folded package to be unstable and to deform. This is
particularly so when the mattress 30 is positioned within the
cavity formed between the base wall 13' and side walls 13". A
nursing bottle or other articles or toys can also be stored in this
area, as shown at 35.
Referring now to FIGS. 7 to 11, there is illustrated a further
embodiment of the construction of the portable knock-down crib of
the present invention. The modified blank 50 as illustrated herein
is designed whereby the inner rectangular end panels 51 are
provided with wings 52 on opposed vertical edges 53 which are
scored whereby the wings 52 may be glued or otherwise fastened to
the inside surface 54 of the inner elongated rectangular panel 55
of the side wall 56. Thus, the inner rectangular panels 51 and 55
are secured in a inner rectangular panels 51 and 55 are secured in
a vertical plane in relation to the base 60 so as to form a
box.
Referring now additionally to FIG. 8, there is shown a perspective
view of the box with the inner rectangular panel sections 51 and 55
secured together by the wings 52. In order to permit the side walls
56 and end walls 57 to fold together on the rectangular base 60,
the side wall 56 is provided with wall folding means in the form of
opposed diagonal fold lines 58 extending from opposed ends of its
panel folding line 59 along its base and extending to an opposed
side of the transverse parallel score lines 27 as previously
described with the previous embodiment. In order to permit proper
folding of the side walls onto the rectangular base 60, the wings
52 are only glued in the hatched portion 61 which lies above the
diagonal fold line 58 on the inner rectangular section 51 of the
side wall. Accordingly, with this embodiment, when the package is
opened to its position as shown in FIG. 8, all that is necessary to
form the crib in its usable state is to fold the outer elongated
rectangular sections 55' and 51' over their inner rectangular
sections 55 and 51, respectively, as illustrated by arrows 62.
Thus, the crib is very easy to form.
Referring now to FIGS. 9 to 11, there is shown briefly the sequence
to fold the usable crib to its hand-portable state as shown in FIG.
2. Firstly, the outer rectangular sections 55' and 51' are
retracted to their position as shown in FIG. 8 by pulling on the
cutouts 63 and the side wall panels 56 are then pulled down
centrally between the diagonal fold lines 58 to lie one on top of
another on the base 60, as illustrated in FIG. 9. This causes the
side walls to fold in and, at the same time, to draw the end walls
57 thereover, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 9. FIG. 10
illustrates the side walls 56 in their folded over condition as
well as the end walls 57 with the outer rectangular sections 51'
being opened to show the position of the folded side walls. FIG. 11
shows the side walls fully folded over the base wall with the blank
now being ready to be folded on the diagonal pair of transverse
fold lines 27 to form the package of FIG. 2.
Another advantage of the crib structure of the invention is that
the handle members 23 are provided in the lower portion of the end
wall when assembled in its position of use as shown in FIG. 1. In
this position, the crib can be used as a storage bin which is
disposed under a bed and can be easily pulled out from under the
bed by grasping the handle, which is readily available. The handle
can also constitute a tie-down for the crib in order to prevent it
from movement on a support surface. The crib may also be
constructed of a plastic corrugated blank or other suitable
material that is foldable. Still further, the material may be
sprayed with a baby powder scent.
* * * * *